Monday, April 12, 2010

WIP- Citra Solv- And Embroidery

Transferring embroidery patterns to fabric is a kill joy for me. The lines always seem fuzzy and it's time consuming too. For a while now I have been thinking that Citra-Solv transfer might just be an easy way to print an embroidery pattern on fabric.

This weekend, I put that idea to work. It works great! This is a heavy canvas and the transfer was terrific. I was able to embroider over each part without a problem.

I was going for a vintage table cloth map type of feel here. I first printed out a map of Texas from Enchanted Learning. Then I used a Google image search to find an armadillo, BU logo, flowers and the Alamo. Once I re-sized those images in a Word Document, I cut them out and glued them to the Texas map. Then I scanned the whole thing and inverted the image (mirror function) so that when I did the Citra-Solv transfer the writing would be correct. I know that seems like a lot of work, but creating just the image I wanted was half the fun.

If you click on the picture you will see that I didn't embroider over the city names and the finer details of the Alamo. I really like the mix of embroidery and printing.

PS- That is my first bottle of Citra-Solve! For all the cleaning, paint brush washing and crafting I have done- the stuff lasts!

8 comments:

oooh, i have been sold on citra-solve from reading your previous posts about it, but now i am actually gonna get off my butt and buy some. i, too, loathe the embroidery-transfer process! normally i just end up tracing onto the fabric with a fabric marker- not ideal. so this is awesome- i loooove how it turned out! are you a texas girl? or is this a gift? oh, and- i don't even know who the bears are, but- go bears- ha! :)

That is seriously so cute though, love the little armadillo! I have the nasty habit of trying to hand draw or trace my embroidery projects and I'm far from an artist. I may need to try this on for size!

Great idea!!! Transferring patterns is my least favorite part of embroidery too. The iron-ons work great, but after a few uses they get too light to be effective. I've had zero success w/ tracing paper or iron on pencils. Your CitriSolv really is turning out to be the duct tape of crafting! :D

Hi there Jane! Looks like you have another hit on your hands! This is just great! This kind of opens up a whole new set of options for people to be able to embroider! We can't thank you enough for sharing these wonderful ideas with others. And - the next time you do a raffle for Citra Solv - I will be happy to send it from here! That way you can save yours for a rainy day. Thanks again,Melissa & the Citra Solv gang

Loving learning about this and going to give it a try...thanks so much for the post. Oh, by the way, I think you forgot UT Longhorns at the Austin dot. LOLFrom a Native Texan!!!I plan on making some tea towels...thanksJanette

Crafty Goals 2010

Jane

Look! See! Jane's Out of the Crayon Box!

About Out of the Crayon Box

Welcome! This is my very own show and tell for all the things I do out of the Crayon Box. When I am not with the Crayons or grading their papers, I am most likely making some sort of mess in the name of creativity.

Updated: My Many Colored Crayons- the blog about life in my inner city classroom is on hiatus (to use a Hollywood term) and is unavailable. Rest assured, things are grooving along in the Crayon Box and this year's Crayons are a vibrant mix of pastels, primary colors and of course, some hot colors too.